Boxed produce loads and spacing units



Feb. 7, 1956 H. c. PIERCE BOXED PRODUCE LOADS AND SPACING UNITS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 15', 1951 EIQOLD 6. p/EQCE, INVENTOR.

Arron/5;.

Feb. 7, 1956 H. c. PIERCE BOXED PRODUCE LOADS AND SPACING UNITS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 15 1951 M a M n .L L 5, x W H m m m m A? "a H H T a hmirmy mm [1 w 1 6 H Hf 1? i a ,M 7 I 0 #03,. T; I a l p fl n, r. 1 m: W fi L 1 7 T J u w M if X INVENTO};

HAQOLD C. REQCZ BY r Feb. 7, 1956 H. c. PIERCE BOXED PRODUCE LOADS AND SPACING UNITS 3 Sheets-Sheet 25 Filed Dec. 15, 1951 Hmeuo C. p/EQCE,

INVENTOR.

BY w

Arrow/5y.

United States atent O This invention relates to improved arrangements for loading boxed produce in railroad: cars, and to units for bracing, and spacing apart the boxes in such loads.

The present: loads, though having advantages for shippingany of various types of produce boxes, are in certain. respects particularly desirable for boxes having relatively strong; topand. bottom walls. For instance, loads embodying the invention are well. suited for shipping slatted crates of thetype commonly used for cantaloupes, these crates. being adapted to be stood on end, without iniury to the contained produce, so that their relatively rigid endwalls extend horizontally across their upper and lower sides.

. .A. major obiectof the present invention is to provide a bracedand spaced load arrangement adapted for shippingboxestof. the above as. well as certain other types, and

particularly designed to render possible very rapid loading. and unloading of a car. At the same time, it is an object of the invention to employ spacing units which are structurally very simple and of a type requiring a minimum number of the units per load. Further contemplated is a load in which allot" the spacers required are of essentiallythe. same construction. I Stnucturally, the. present loads include elongated spacer members extending horizontally through the load to engage and horizontally space apart opposed box surfaces. Preferably, these horizontal spacer members extend transversely across the entire load to space apart, and providefor air circulation between, adjacent transverse box. rows. When the boxes are of a type having strong upper and lower walls, the horizontal spacers may extend between. the boxes at the locations of these walls, to thus transmit forces longitudinally of the load directly be tween the strongest walls of. successive boxes. As' a result, the boxes and spacers form together a rigid structure efiectively resisting shifting movement in the car upon itsaccelerationor deceleration.

. Aparticular object. of one form of the invention is to provide a single spacer adapted to serve the dual purposes of spacing apart adjacent boxes in a load and spacing the outer boxes of the load from the car walls. spacers of the above type with means carried at their Specifically, this is achieved by providing horizontal spacers: ofthe above typev with means carried at their oppositeends for spacing end boxes of the various transverse rows from the correspondingcar walls. The means for spacing the end boxes from the car walls may take the form of spacer blocks attached to the sides of the horizontal; spacers at their ends.

. Furthercontemplated are means for very simply but effectively supporting the individual spacer units in their proper positions in a load. 7 For this purpose the spacers. may carry positioning elements extending to locationsabove boxes in one of the rows, to positively sup- .and. accurately position the spacers. I In the form of the" invention in which the. spacer members carry blocks for. spacing outer boxes ofr'the load from the. car walls, the positioning elements may comprise metal straps extending ice angularly between the horizontal spacer members and the outer blocks and over corners of outer boxes in the load. In a second form of the invention, thepositioning elements take the form ofv metallic projections which are received between adjacent slats of upper walls'of the boxes.

In assembling a load embodying theinvention, as an individual spacer member is moved into positiongthe spacer must in certain cases be supported temporarily without the aid of boxes to be positioned later against one of its sides. A. third. term of. the invention particularly concerned with facilitating. such temporary support of, the spacer members, to thus permit more rapid. assembly of a load. For this. purpose, I: mayemploy aunique load arrangement in which the boxes .in an upper-tier ,or layer are OiTset horizontally relative to the lower tier b"oxes,.so' that boxes in the lower tier have portions: projecting beyond corresponding upper tier boxes, on which .aspacer rmthe upper tier may be supported. Preferably, a spacer for the lower tier is fastened to each of the upper tier spacers, in offset relation corresponding to that of the boxes, so that both spacers may be supported in the load as a unit, by reception of the-upper one over the projecting portions.- of. the lower tier boxes; Each. spacer may also carry means for spacing outer boxes. of an elfgaged row from the adjacentcar wallsa' The above and other features and. objects of the pres?- ent invention will be better. :understoodxfrom: the following detailed description of the typical embodiments illustrated in the accompanying. drawings, in. which: p i

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a'fboxed produce load embodying the invention, and contained within a conventional ra'droadbox car;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary elevational view of the load of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of one of the boxesand one of the spacer units;

Fig. 4 is a further enlarged fragmentary perspective view of an end portion of the spacer-unit;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary elevational view of a'variational form of load embodying the invention;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is an enarged .fragmentary sectional. view take on line 7-7 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged. fragmentary perspective view of one of the spacer units in Fig. 5-; r

Fig. 9 is a perspective view corresponding to Fig. 8 of a variational form of spacer unit;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view corresponding to Fig. 6 and showing the positioning of the Fig.9 spacer within aload;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary perspective view of a third form of the invention; 1

Fig. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal section through the Fig. 11 load, and taken on line- 12-12 of that figure; and

Fig. 13 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of an end portion of one of the spacer units used at the vertically central locations in Fig. 11.

Describing first the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 4, and with reference particularly to Figs. '1 and 2, an end portion of a boxed produce load 10 embodying the invention is shown assembled within a conventional railroad box car, having the usual slatted floor 11; longitudinal side walls 12, and end walls 13 (only one shown). The load may comprise a number of elongated crates 14 of the type commonly used for shipping cantaloupes, and all of whose sides are formed ofspaced parallel slats, as shown. These crates or boxes have their two most rigid walls at their opposite: ends 15, these walls including two relatively thick and strong slat members 16,-and an intermediate relatively thin slat 17. These end walls of the boxes are essentially fiat and lie in a pair of parallel planes. Extending between end walls 15, each of the individual boxes has a pair of opposite slatted more or less planar sides 18, and a second pair of opposite sla tted outwardly bulging or crowned sides 19.

Theboxes 14 are stood on end in the car and arranged in stacked parallel rows R running transversely of the car andstacked parallel rows R1 running longitudinally of the car. The boxes are positioned so that their relatively straight sides 18 extend transversely of the car, and their crowned sides 19 extend longitudinally of the car. The'slatted crowned sides 19 of adjacent boxes in each transverse row R are in direct engagement at their central areas 20. Preferably, the boxes are stacked in two layers ortiers, as seen in Fig. l, the opposite end walls of vertically adjacent boxes being in direct engagement.

. Successive transverse rows R of the boxes are spaced apart, and the outer boxes of these rows are spaced from the side walls of the car, by a number of specially formed dual purpose spacer units 21. Each of these spacer units includes an elongated horizontal spacer member 22 extending transversely across the entire load between a pair of adjacent transverse rows of the boxes. These spacer members are relatively thin as compared with the box dimensions, and-engage and space apart the transverse rows to form between the rows narrow air circulating spaces. Preferably, the spacer members 22 are received between-.the'strong end walls of adjacent boxes, to transmit forces tending to shift the load directly between these strong walls.-

At its opposite ends, each of the horizontal spacer members 22 carries a pair of preferably rectangular spacer blocks 23, attached to the side of member 22 by a pair of nails 124 (see Fig. 4). Blocks 23 are received between the end boxes of the transverse rows and the adjacflnt walls of the car, to space the end boxes from those wa s.

The spacer units 21 may be supported in their proper positions within a load by providing each with a pair of metal straps 24 extending angularly between the elongated spacer members 22 and the end spacer blocks 23 respectively. The straps 24 may be fastened to members 22and 23 by turning end portions 25 of the straps downwardly and then driving them into the spacers (see Fig. 4). To strengthen the unit, an additional end portion 26 of each strap 24 may be turned downwardly at a side of the elongated spacer member 22.

While the dimensions of the various elements fornr 'ing spacer units 21 may of course vary, their preferred dimensions as now in use are as follows: Where the width of the car is 98", the length of member 22 may be 96" and its spacing thickness A of an inch. The vertical dimension of both members 22 and 23 may be 1%", while the dimension X of block 23 transversely of the car is 3", and the dimension Y of this block longitudinally of the car is 2% In assembling the load, a spacer unit 21a is first positioned across the end of the car floor, and a first transverse row of boxes is then positioned against this spacer unit. A second spacer unit 21b is then positioned transversely along the bottoms of these boxes at their sides away from the end wall 13, and a pair of upper spacer units 210 and 210? are positioned along the transverse edges of the top walls of these boxes. Two additional spacer units 21e and 21 may then be superimposed on units 210 and 21d, and the boxes of the second layer in the first transverse row are placed in position. To complete the spacing of the first row of boxes, two final spacer units 21g and 21h are positioned at the top of the second layer of boxes. Other transverse rows of boxes are then positioned in the car in the same manner as this first row, until the boxes have been filled from one end to near the center of the car. The opposite end of the car is then filled in the same manner, to complete the loading of the car.

Those spacer units which engage and position the upper edges of adjacent boxes, as for instance spacer units 21c, 21d, 21g and 23th, are supported in their proper positions in the load by extension of their angular metal straps 24 across the upper sides of corner portions of end boxes in the transverse rows. The spacer units which engage and space apart, or space from a car wall, lower portions of the boxes, as for instance units 21a, 21b, 21e and 21f, do not necessarily need any separate means for supporting them in the load. That is, units 21a and 21b 7 are supported on the floor of the car, and units 21e and 217 are supported by the units 210 and 21d. Consequently, if desired, the supporting straps 24 may be dispensed with in these units which are otherwise adequately supported.

In the assembled load, the various spacer units 21 effectively brace the various boxes against shiftingmovement both transversely and longitudinally of the car. It is particularly noted that the positioning of transverse spacer members 22 between the relatively strong upper and lower walls of the boxesprovides for the direct transmission of forces longitudinally of the car between these rigid walls of longitudinally adjacent boxes. As a result, the spacer members 22 and the rigid upper and lower box walls form together a rigid bracing system positively preventing shifting movement of the boxes longitudinally of the car upon its acceleration or deceleration.

In addition to their bracing function, spacing units 21 serve to space apart successive transverse rows of boxes, and to space outer or end boxes in the rows from adjacent car walls, in a manner providing for adequate circulation of refrigerating air upwardly from the slatted fioor of the car to the produce in the various boxes. More particularly, the cooling air may circulate upwardly at the sides of the box rows and then into the spaces between adjacent transverse rows, and may also pass upwardly into both the slatted bottom walls of the boxes and their engaging crowned sides 20.

Figs. 5 through 8 show a variational form of load, comprising a number of boxes 14a constructed and arranged in a car 27 in the same manner as the boxes '14 of the first form of the invention. In Fig. 5, however, the boxes are of such size as to completely fill the transverse dimension of the car. There is consequently no provision for spacing end boxes of the transverse rows R from the adjacent side walls 28 of the car. For spacing the transverse box rows apart and from the end walls of the car, this second form of the invention includes a number of elongated transverse spacing members 34, positioned and functioning in the same manner as spacing 'main portion of the projection may be mounted to the spacer member by driving an inner arcuately curved end portion 32 of the projection into the body of the spacer.

At a side of spacer 34 the metal of projection 29'is deformed to form a pair of finger elements 33 which extend first upwardly from the main portion 30 of the projection and then horizontally in the plane of horizontal sur face 31 of the spacing member.

In the assembled load, the projections 29 are received between slats forming the top and bottom walls of the boxes, as seen best in Fig. 7. The main portion 30 of each of the projections is of a width to substantially exactly fit in the space between one of the thick slats 16a of a box-end wall and an adjacentthinner slat 17a of agrees-vs thatwallz The thickness of the projection, as definedby thespacing' of its fingers 33. and main portion 30; cone.- spondssubstantially to the thickness of slats 16a; and fingers 33 are of such a length as to extend to positions overlying the thinslat' 17a. As will beappreciated, when projections 29 are constructed in the described manner, they serve to accurately position spacing members 3'43 in the load, while still" permitting direct engagement of the adjacent top. and bottom walls of the vertically adjacent boxesbetween which the projections. are received. Prefer:- eiblYQc'aoh spacing member carries four projections, en gaging; the twoboxes at each end of each of the transverse box rows. 7 v p p me-procedure followed in assembling the load of'Figs. through 8 is substantially the. same as in the first form (if-the invention, and will not. be described in detail; It tempt d; however,fthat;the spacers. 34 extending along the' hottoms of the various boxes, as for instancethe spacers designated. 3411,3415, 34c and 34d; are positioned to have their projections 29 adjacent their lower edges, for. reception between slats forming the bottom walls of the boxes. On the other hand; those spacers extending alifng. upper portions of the boxes, such as the spacers designated 34e, 34f, 34g and 3412, have their projections ZQT adjacent their upper edges, for reception between slats of the upper box walls.

Figs. 9* and 10 represent a variational form of the inyention. corresponding essentially to that of Figs; 5 through 8; except that a single spacer unit 35 is substituted for each of the pairs of engaging superimposed units (such as units 340 and 3.42, and units 34d and34f) adjacent the areas ofinterengagement' of boxes inthe two superimposed layers or tiers. More specifically; each. of the units 35 includes a horizontally extending spacer member 36 which vertically overlaps boxes in both tiers, to act as a spacer in each of the tiers. The members 36 are supported in the load by projections 37, of the same formation as projections 29 in Fig. 8, these proj je'ctions being carried at the vertically central portion of each member 36, to. position that member in the desired overlapping relation to the two tiers of boxes.

Figs. ll-13 represent a third" form of load, which is similar. in many respects to that of Figs; 1"-4; Along the top and" bottom, of this load, the various box rows are spaceda'part by the same type of transverse spacer" unit ofiset relation by a pair of parallel elongated spacer members'41 and? 42, nailed to the carend wall 43, and received between it andthe lower tier of boxes inthe endtransverse row. T; Members 41 and 1.2 may each extend transversely across the. entire load, the former engaging: the upper'edges of all lower tier boxes in row T, and the latter engaging the lower edges ofthose boxes; 1 The upper tier boxes in end row T may be'permitted todirectly engage the car end wall, so that the upper and lower tier rows areofiset a distance corresponding to the spacing th-iclb nesses of members 41 and 42.

The intermediate spacerunits 40 may each be considered to comprise a pair of theupperand lowerspacing units 21, minus: supporting-straps 24, nailed together in horizontally'ofiset' relation. More specifically; a unit- 40 includes apair of elongated horizontal members 22a and 225,; of dimensions.correspondingto members 22 o fl units 1 21" and two pairs ofblocks2'3a and 23b nailed to opposite en s, of members 2211 and 22b, respectively; Theupper elongated member 2211 is received between the lower etfges of'the'boxes in a pair of upper tier rows, while member. 225 is received" between the upper edges ofboxe's in correspondiugbut offset lower tier rows: The blocks 22a" and 22b space'the outer boxes of enact the engaged rows from" the adjacent c'ar walls; The-upper member 22a and its blocks are offsetlongitudinally of the car relative to lower member 2211' and" its blocks a distance equal to the. spacing thickness of members 42 and 42'.

lnasse'mbling the load of Figs, 1'l-1'3T, each unit 40 is positioned and effectively supported by reception of its upper spacer member 22a over the projectingportion of the boxes in one of the lower tier rows. To assure effective support in this manner, it is desirable that, the offset of'fthe boxes, as determined by the thickness of members 41 and" 42'; be at least as great as the thickness ofthe' spacer member'sZIZ'a to be supported; and preferably be. about twice their thickness. For. in'stance, where the latter members have thicknesses .ot about A inch, the thicknesses of end spacers 41 and 42 may typically he ab'outl /zl inches. 1

l'c'laim:

l. box catload comprising boxes arrangedin stacked rows extending longitudinally and transversely in .a 631?, and horizontally elongated spacer members extending across the load; between adjacent transverse boxrows and engaging. and spacing apart opposed upper and lower edge portions of corresponding boxes in said. rows, the individual members extendingalong substantiallytheentire, transverse extents of said transverse rows and. having spacing thicknesses longitudinally. of the car which are small as compared with the box dimensions to space: the

box edge'p'ortions apart correspondingly small distances. 2. A box car-load comprisingboxesarrangedin-stacked rows extending longitudinally and transversely in a car, horizontally elongated spacer members. extending. across the load between adjacent transverse box rows and engaging and spacing apart opposed upper andlower edge port-ions of corresponding boxes in said rows, the individual members having lengths transversely of the can which are greater th'arr the corresponding transverse, dimensions of the-individual boxes, whereby'each spacer member engages andspacesapart a plurality of pairs of opposed boxes the individual members having spacing thicknesses longitudinally of the car which are small'g as compared with the box dimension tospace the box edges apart correspondinglysmall distances; and elements carried by saidfrnembets near their-ends engaging outer surfaces of end boxes in said transverse rows and spacing said end. boxes from an adjac'ent'car wall.

3". A box car load comprising; boxes arranged in" stacked rows extending longitudinallyand transversely in a car, horizontally elongated spacer members extending across the load betweenadjacent transverse boxrows and' engaging' and spacing apart opposed upper and" lower edge" portionsl'of"correspon'ding 'boxesin said rows, the individual members extending-along substantially the entire transverse'ext'ent of said transverse rows and-having spacing thicknesses longitudinally o'f'the car which are small as compared with the box dimensions to' space thebox' edges apartcorrespondingly small distances; and blocks carried by 'said. members: at the opposite ends thereof and received between. end' boxes in said transverse rows and'the adjacent car wall: to space said end boxest-herefrorn.

4. A box car load comprisingb'oxes arranged 'instached rows extending-longitudinally and transversely' in. a car, horizontallyelongated spacer members" extending across the load" Between adjacent transverse box" rows: and engaging and spacing apart opposed". top and bottom edge'portions of corresponding boxes in. said rows, the individual members extending along. substantially the entiretransverse extents of said transvers'e rows and having; spacing thicknesses longitudinally of the car which arev smallas compared with the box. dimensions to space the edgjefportions apa'rt correspondingly small distances, pairsof blocks carriedby saicl members at opposite ends thereof 7 and projecting therefroni' lorigitudihally' of the car to positions the load between adjacent transverse box rows and engaging and spacing apart opposed surfaces of corresponding boxes insaid rows, and elements carried by said spacer members and received between vertically successive boxes to support the spacer members in the load, said elements having portions received between successive slats of said horizontal walls of the individual boxes.

, 6. A box car load comprising boxes arranged in stacked rows extending longitudinally and transversely in a car, said boxes having horizontal walls comprising spaced slats,

horizontally elongated spacer members extending across the load between adjacent transverse box rows and engaging and spacing apart opposed surfaces of corresponding boxes in said rows, and sheet metal elements carried by said spacer members and projecting therefrom longitudinally of the car to positions between vertically successive boxes to support the spacer members in the load, said elements having first portions received between successive 'slats of said horizontal Walls of the individual boxes, and

said elements being doubled back transversely of the load to form secondportions spaced from said first portions and extending into overlapping relation with adjacent slats.

"-8 interposed between and spacing apart opposed surfaces of boxes in said second tier, said additional spacer means being horizo'ntallyotfsetrelative to the corresponding first spacer means.

11. A boxed producef load comprising boxes arranged in superimposed tiers within a car and in longitudinal and transverse rows within each tier, boxes within a first tier being horizontally offset relative to correspondingboxes in a second and adjacent tier, first spacer members interposed between and spacing apart opposed surfaces of boxes in said first tier, and additional spacer members fastened respectively to and supported in the load with corresponding first spacer members in horizontally offset relation thereto and interposed between and spacing apart boxes in said second tier. I

' 12. A boxed produce load comprising boxes arranged in superimposed tiers within a car and in longitudinal and transverse rows within each tier, box rows within a first tier being offset horizontally relative to corresponding rows in a second and adjacent tier, elongated horizontal first spacer members interposed between adjacent box rows in said first tier and spacing apart opposed portions I of corresponding boxes in said first tier rows, elongated 7. For use in a box car load comprising boxes arranged in stacked rows extending longitudinally and transversely in a car, an elongated spacer member adapted to extend horizontally across substantially theentire transverse.

extent of the car and load between adjacent transverse box rows and to engage and space apart opposed upper and lower edge portions of corresponding boxes in said rows, and a pair of blocks carried by said member at -bysaid member at opposite ends thereof and receivable between outer boxes of the load and adjacent car walls to space said outer boxes therefrom, and support elements extending angularlybetween said spacer member and blocks respectively for passing over corner portions of said outer boxes to support the member in the load.

9. For use in a box car load comprising boxes having slatted horizontal walls and arranged in stacked rows extending longitudinally and transversely in a car, an elongated spacer member adapted to extend horizontally across the load between adjacent transverse box rows to engage and space apart opposed surfaces of corresponding boxes in said rows, and sheet metal projections carried by said member and projecting therefrom longitudinally of the car for reception between vertically successiveboxes to support the member in the load, the individual projections comprising sheet metal elements doubled back transversely of the car to form a pair of spaced horizontally extending portions.

10. A boxed produce load comprising boxes arranged in superimposed tiers within a car and in longitudinal and transverse rows within each tier, boxes within a first tier being horizontally offset relative to corresponding boxes in a second and adjacent tier, first spacer means supported in positions in which they are interposed between and 'space apart opposed surfaces of boxes in said first tier, and additional spacermeanssupported in the load and horizontal second spacer members ofiset horizontally relative to and supported in the load with said first spacer members and interposed between and spacing apart opposed portions of corresponding boxes in adjacent second tier rows, and means fastening corresponding first and second spacer members together in said horizontally offset relation.

13. A boxed produce load comprising boxes arranged in superimposed tiers within a car and in longitudinal and transverse rows within each tier, transverse box rows within a first tier being oifset horizontally relative to corresponding rows in a second and adjacent tier, elongated horizontal first spacer members interposed between adjacent transverse box rows in said first tier and spacing apart opposed portions of corresponding boxes in said arranged in superimposed tiers within a car and in longitudinal and transverse rows within each tier, box rows within a first tier being offset horizontally relative to corresponding rows in a second and adjacent tier; an elongated first spacer adapted to extend horizontally through the load between adjacent rows in said first tier to engage and space apart opposed surfaces of corresponding boxes in said first tier rows, an elongated second spacer adapted to be supported in the load with said first spacer and to extend horizontally through the load in horizontally ofiset relation to said first spacer and between adjacent second tier rows to space apart opposed surfaces of corresponding boxes in said second tier rows, and means fastening said first and second space members together in said offset relation.

15. For use in a boxed produce load comprising boxes arranged in superimposed tiers within a car and in longitudinal and transverse rows within each tier, box rows within a first tier being offset horizontally relative to corresponding rows in a second and adjacent tier; an elongated first spacer adapted to extend horizontally through the load between adjacent rows in said first tier to engage and space apart opposed surfaces of corresponding boxes in said first tier rows, an elongated second spacer adapted to be supported in the load with said first spacer and to arsaera extend horizontally through the load in horizontally ofiset relation to said first spacer and between adjacent second tier rows to space apart opposed surfaces of corresponding boxes in said second tier rows, and blocks carried at opposite ends of said spacer members receivable between outer boxes of the load and adjacent car walls to space said outer boxes therefrom.

16. A box car load comprising boxes arranged in stacked rows extending longitudinally and transversely in a car, and horizontally elongated spacer members supported in positions in which they extend transversely of the car between adjacent transverse box rows and engage and horizontally space apart upper and lower edge portion of corresponding boxes in said adjacent transverse rows, said members having spacing thicknesses longitudinally of the car which are small as compared with the box dimensions and each having a. length transversely of the car which is greater than the corresponding transverse dimensions of the individual boxes, whereby each spacer member engages and spaces apart edge portions of a plu rality of pairs of opposed boxes.

17. A box car load as recited in claim 16 including elements carried by said spacer members and extending to positions above and supported on adjacent boxes to sup port the spacer members in the load.

' 18. A box car load as recited in claim 16 in which the individual spacer members extend along the major portions of the transverse extents of said transverse rows.

19. A box car load comprising boxes arranged in stacked rows extending longitudinally and transversely in a car, horizontally elongated spacer members extending across the load between adjacent transverse box rows and engaging and spacing apart opposed surfaces of corresponding boxes in said rows, the individual members having lengths transversely of the car which are greater than the corresponding transverse dimensions of the individual boxes, whereby each spacer member engages and spaces apart a plurality of pairs of opposed boxes, the

individual members having spacing thicknesses longitudinally of the car which are small as compared with the box dimensions to space the box surfaces apart correspondingly small distances, and elements carried by said members near their ends engaging outer surfaces of end boxes in said transverse rows and engaging opposed side wall surfaces of the car and spacing said end boxes from said car wall surfaces.

20. A boxed produce load as recited in claim 13, in which said first tier of boxes is beneath said second tier, said first spacer members being interposed between upper edge portions of boxes in said first tier, said second spacer members being interposedbetween lower edge portions of boxes in said second tier, there being third elongated spacer members extending transversely of the load between lower edge portions of boxes in adjacent transverse rows of said first tier, and fourth elongated spacer members extending transversely of the load between upper edge portions of boxes in adjacent transverse rows of said second tier, blocks carried at opposite ends of said third and fourth spacer members and receivable between outer boxes of said second tier and said adjacent car walls to space said outer boxes therefrom, and means supporting said fourth spacers in the load.

21. A boxed produce load as recited in claim 20, in which said last mentioned means comprise elements extending angularly between said fourth spacer members and the blocks carried thereby and passing over corner portions of said outer boxes in the second tier to support the fourth spacer members in the load.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 22,256 Hoak Ian. 26, 1943 2,341,088 Ellis Feb. 8, 1944 2,415,368 Pierce Feb. 4, 1947 2,419,754 Adams Apr. 29, 1947 2,474,949 Lewis et a1 July 5, 1949 2,475,719 Pierce July 12, 1949 2,585,269 Pierce Feb. 12, 1952 2,585,778 Huebner Feb. 12, 1952 2,627,820 Rion Feb. 10, 1953 

